Apparatus for manufacturing tires



Jan. 26, 1943. F. I. HONDERICH APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIRES Filed Oct. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l I m m w m FRANCIS I HONDERICJII" A TTORNEYS.

Filed Oct. 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEIITOR. FRANCIS I. HONDERICH BY k ATTORNEYS.

8 1943- Y F. I. HONDERICH 2,309,590

I APPARATUS FOR mUFAcTvRmmTI'REs 5 Sheets-559st s FRANCIS I. HOWRICH Jan. 25, 1943. F. 1. HONDERICH APPARATUS FQR MANUFACTURING TIRES' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 27, 1938 m Wm WM m m m "Maw A TTORNEYS.

4 F. 1. HONDERICH 1 2,309,590

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIRES Filed Oct. 27', 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

fi FRANCIS 1. HONDERICH I v MQM-u ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING TIRES Francis I. Honderich, Natchez, Miss, assignor by mesne assignments, to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 27, 1938, Serial No. 237,206

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for an operation in manufacturing pneumatic tires, and in particular it relates to apparatus for automatically removing curing bags from pneumatic In general, the inventioncomprises a conveyor, means for removing an assembled tire and curing bag from the conveyor, means for removing the curing bag from the tire, and means for assembly to drop from the conveyor to an inclined gravity conveyor 4 upon which, as shown in Fig.- 2, the assembly assumes first, or feeding, and.

second, or work, positions designated by reference characters 5 and 6, respectively. A stop mechanism 1 detains successive assemblies on the gravity conveyor while a bag removing mechanism 8 withdraws the curing bag 3 from the foremost tire 2. An auxiliary device 9 assists the transporting the tire and the curing bag from 10 as r m in mechanism 8 n obtaining a p p the curing bag removing means, grip on thecuring bag 3. After a curing bag is In the manufacture and vulcanization of pneuremoved from a tire it-is transported along a conmatic tires it is necessary t i t curing bags veyor l0, and the tire is released from the gravity in the tires for the purpose of providing conveyor and is moved away by a conveyor Il. tainer for inflating fluids. Heretofore, a con- Essentially, the v yo I F s of 00 siderable amount of manual lab has been ventional construction of the overhead type. It quired in handling the tires in order to efiect recomprises a su p t a a p urali y f moval of the curing bags, As th curing bags carriages l3, and a chain l4 connected to the are removed from the tires directly after vulcanr a es. Arms I5 extend from each. of the ization, the tires and bags are hot, and handling s d pp rt a p vo d ho k Norof these articles presents a diflicult proble for .mally, the hook I6 is retained by links I! and the operator. Furthermore, escaping steam from the former being of P in P i for the curing bag addsto the difliculty of handling. supporting a t e and ur ng ag assem ly. The Among the objects of the invention are, to prolink 17 i5 pivotally'attached t0 the arm d vide an eflicient aut m ti means for removing 95 the link I8 is pivotally attached to the hook l6. curing bags from tires, to obviate strenuous and The links are piloted o e at A stop fatiguing labor, an t provide uniformity in the limits the movement of the link I! and maintreatment and cycle of operation. tains the members in an ofi-center locked posi- 7 These and other objects and advantages will tion to forms substantial s p t f c yi appear more fully in the following detailed dethe e assemblyscription, when considered in connection with A trip cam 2lis attached to the link I! and the accompanying d awi in h h; cooperates with a trip arm 22 pivotally attached Fig. 1 is a plan view of an appratus embodying to a bracket 23 extending from the beam [2. As features of the in e ti the conveyor moves in the direction indicated by Fig.2 is'an elevati nal vi thereof; the arrow, the trip cam 2| engages with the trip Fig. 3 is an el vati s; view-of th apparatus arm 22, causing an elevated movement of the n Section, taken along section line 1]IIII of links H and I8, which moves them out of 01T- Fig. 1;. center position, thus permitting the unsupported Fig. 4 is an el vati l vi of a t carrying hook IE to swing about its pivot andto release the conveyor, showing it position r l ti t t bag 40 tire assembly positioned on the hook. The release removing apparatus; of the tire assembly is timed in such manner that Fig, 5 i d t i View, in elevation, of a timing it will drop into position 5 on the inclined gravswiteh me hani operated by a bag pulling ity conveyor 4, which position is normally unoccu- Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail views, pied for reception of the new tire assembly. in section, illustrating difierent stages in the re- To Prawnt the Possibility of one tire dropping -moval of a curing bag from t d upon another, the trip arm 22 is movable out of Fig, 9 i a Wiring and piping diagram for the engagement with the trip cam 2| by means of a apparatus, fluid operating cylinder 24 pivotally attached to a Referring to th drawings conveyor I (F bracket 25 secured to the beam.l2. The piston 4) sup li s th curing bag removing device t rod extending from the cylinder 24 pivotally entires 2 assembled with curing bags 3 in a o gages with the trip arm 22. A conventional, elecance with eflicient method of tire manuf ctur trically operated fluid valve control 26 functions providing for continuous conveyance of the tires to op ra e h flui y n 4 at proper interfrom operation to operation. Release mechanism vals. Means for operating the electric valve hereafter described causes a tire and curing bag 5 control 26 will be described hereinafter.

The inclined gravity conveyor 4 on to which the tire assembly is dropped consists essentially of a structural frame member 21 (Figs. 2 and 3). In position of the conveyor 4 the frame 21 supports a plurality of freely rotating rollers 28. The tire assembly is retained in position 5 until the curing bag of the preceding tire has been removed. Means for retaining the tire assembly in position 5 is efiected by a stop arm 23 pivotally 7 attached to the frame 21 and to the piston rod of a fluid operating cylinder 30.

Guide members 3| are provided on either side of the conveyor 4 at position 5. As the tire assembly rests in this position, a roller 32 pivotally attached to the frame at 33 is engaged by the tire assembly, the result of which causes the roller 32 to swing on its pivot 33 and to engage an electric switch 34. This action, as hereinafter more particularly described, causes the electric valve control 25 (Fig. 4) to be energized, thus elevating the trip arm 22 to the position indicated by the dotted lines. When the trip arm 22 is in its elevated position, the tire assemblies, guided by the conveyor I, are moved past the gravity conveyor 4 without being released from the hook IS. A spring 35 (Fig. 3) maintains the roller 32 in its normal position for engaging the tire 2.

The stop arm 29 (Fig. 3) is normally in a posi tion to permit the tire assembly to move by gravity along the conveyor 4. However, when a tire assembly is in position 5 on the conveyor 4, the cylinder 35 is actuated so as to move the arm 29 into stop position to prevent a tire from moving from position 5 to position 5. At the start of the operation the stop arm 29 is clear of the path of the tire assembly in position 5, thus permitting the tire assembly to move directly into position 5.

The gravity conveyor 4 in position 5 includes a plurality of freely rotatable rollers 35 extending across the path of the conveyor, and a plurality of rollers 31 which, as shown in Fig. 1, are positioned only at the marginal portions of the conveyor. This arrangement permits a relatively large opening through the conveyor so that the curing bag 3 may be withdrawn from the tire 2 from the under side of theconveyor.

Before a tire assembly reaches the position 5, a stop bracket 38 connected to a fluid operable cylinder 38 moves into the path of the tire assembly on the gravity conveyor. As the tire assembly moves from position 5 to position 5, the tire strikes a movable roller 48 pivotally attached to the frame at 4 I. Movement of the roller 48 from the weight of the tire assembly results in the completion of an electric circuit within a. switch box 42. This action simultaneously energizes the bag removing mechanism 8 and the auxiliary device 9 for assisting the bag removing mechanism.

Actuation of the switch 42 causes a reverse movement of the piston in cylinder 35 resulting in movement of the stop arm 29 into the path of the conveyor 4 to prevent a tire from moving from position 5 to position 5 Among other operations, $.ctuation of the switch box 42 energizes a conventional electric valve control 43 (Fig. 2) for operating the bag removing mechanism 8. Essentially, the mechanism 8 consists of a fluid operable cylinder 44 supported 011 an inclined plane by structural framework 45. A piston rod in the cylinder 44 joins with a cross head 45 slidably supported by guide rods 41. A hook member 48 pivotally atmember 48 to advance toward the curing bag 3.

At the same time, operation of the switch box 42 causes a conventional electrical valve control 52 (Fig.2) to be energized, thus operating the auxiliary device 9 which assists the bag removing mechanism. This auxiliary device 9 comprises dual and separately operatedcylinders 53 and 54, having a common piston rod 55 to which a bracket 55 and a roller 51 are attached. The bracket 55 slidably engages with a supporting member 58 secured to a structural frame 59 which also supports the cylinders 53 and 54.

The location of the roller 51 after it is moved into' position is such that it extends part way through the aperture formed by the beads or the rim portions of the tire. In this position the roller 5'! acts as a means for guiding the hook 45 into proper-initial position between the interior wall of the tire casing and the exterior wall of 4 the curing bag, as shown in Fig. 6. When this tached to the cross head 45 at 48 includes a relationship between the-guide roller 51 and the hook 48 is reached, a switch box 50 (Fig. 2) is actuated by engagement with the cross head 45. Actuation of the switch box 50 causes the hook member 48 to recede, while simultaneously advancing the guide roller 51. At this stage of the operation the electrical valve control 43 is energized, resulting in the receding movement of the hook member 48 for withdrawing the curing bag 3 from the tire 2. Simultaneously, a conventional electric valve control 5| is energized, causing advance movement of the piston rod 55 through actuation of the cylinder 54. As a result of the advance movement of the guide roller 51 and the simultaneous withdrawal of the hook member 48, the hook member is caused to encircle a substantial portion of the curing bag, so as to pull the curing bag from the tire casing upon the receding movement of the hook, as is consecutively shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

As the hook member is in receding operation, the cross head 45 engages a switch box 52, and the control valves 52 and 5! are actuated to operate cylinders 53 and 54 respectively, resulting in retractive movement of the guide roller 51 out of the path of the tire assembly on the conveyor 4. Actuation of the switch box 52 simultaneously energizes a conventional electric valve control 53 for operating the cylinder 35 and the stop bracket 38.

Due to the receding movement of the hook member 48, the curing bag 3 is pulled out of the tire casing 2 through the under side of the conveyor 4, and is permitted to drop on to a conveyor mechanism [0 (Fig. 2). This conveyor mechanism In is of conventional construction, consisting essentially of a conveyor belt 54 forming a reach between rollers 55 and 55, and having, a belt support in the form of a plurality of idler rollers 51. A combination motor and reduction unit55, through a chain 58, drives the roller 55. This conveyor mechanism operates continuously and curing bags that drop on to the conveyorare immediately moved away from the bag removing operation.

Both the guide roller 51 and the-stop bracket 35 are moved out of the path of the tire 2 resting on the conveyor 4, thus permitting free movement of the tire down the conveyor and onto the tire removing conveyor II. conveyor II is of conventional a belt I8 type, comprising supported by a roller 'II. An independent drive (not shown) operates the conveyor belt I continuously. The conveyor I I is located below the conveyor 4, and therefore the release of a tire from the conveyor 4 operates'automatically to transfer the tire from conveyor 4 to the conveyor I I.

As the stop bracket 38 moves into its receding position it engages a switch box 12 which reverses the cylinder 39 and brings th stop a et 38 back into position in the path of the conveyor 4. During a cycle of movement of the stop bracket 38 the tire 2 has sufiicient time to move from the conveyor 4 on to the conveyor II. Actuation of the switch box I2 through a wire 88 (Fig. 9) simultaneously energizes a conventional electric valve control 73 (Fig. 2) which operates the cylinder 30, causing the stop arm to. .move out of the path of the tire assembly in its position on the conveyor 4. k

As a tire assembly is moved partly out of the position 5, actuation of the switch box 34 is released and there is a probability that another- The tire removing tire assembly will drop from the conveyor I into position 5 before the preceding tire is entirely removed therefrom. In order to overcome this occurrence, an additional switch box 74 is provided for breaking the circuit which results in the transfer of such a tire assembly from the conveyor I. the circuit is operated by the stroke of the piston rod working in the cylinder for controlling the stop arm 29. Therefore, before a tire assembly can be transferred from the conveyor I to the conveyor 4, it is necessary that there be no tire in position 5 on the conveyor 4, and that the stop arm be in position to retain a tire in position 5.

It will be noted that the position 5 ofthe tire assembly on the conveyor 4 is on a different plane than the tire assembly in position 8. By,

this arrangement the tire assembly as it moves from position 5 to position 8 does not contact with the switch roller .40 (Fig. 3)- until thetireassembly reaches substantially its final location in position 8. In position '8 the tire assembly engages the roller 48 forming a contact in the switch box 42 and starting a. cycle of operation ashereinbefore described.

Referring to the operation of the bag removing mechanism 8, it will be noted that the intermediate switch box 62 is operated only upon the receding movement of the hook member 48. This arrangement is shown in detail in Fig. 5 in which the 'crosshead 48 is provided with a pivoted lug I5 having a portion thereof adaptable to engage with a bracket I6 extending from thecross head 48. By this construction the switch box 82 will be actuated only upon the return movement of the hook member 48. When the hook member 48 reaches its receded position, the cross head 46 strikes a switch box I! and com- Dletes a circuit between the electric'valve control" and the switch box 42, the actuation of which is the initial start of the operation.

Referring to Fig. 9, I show a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring and piping arrangement for controlling the various operations of the apparatus. In this view the principal-electric wires extending to a source of energy are indicated by the references 18 and 19., Assum- The switch box 14 which breaks sition 6, the start of the operation results from actuation of the switch box 42 by reason of the weight of the tire assembly on roller 48.

When the switch box 42 is thus actuated, the electric valve' control I3 is energized by means of its connection to the switch box 42 through wires 80 and 87. Actuation of this valve control operates cylinder 38 which moves the stop arm 29 into the tire path on the conveyor 4. -This prevents a tire from moving from position 5 while a tire remains in position 8.

A wire 88 connects the switch box 42 through a completed circuit in the switch box 11 and through a wire 8| to the electric valve control 43. Actuation of this control causes movement 'box 42 a wire 82 leading therefrom completes a circuit for energizing the electric control valve 52, resulting in movement of the guide roller 51 into its first position with respect to the hook member 48. As the hook member 48 is advanced to substantially its outermost position, switch box 60 is actuated and a wire 83 leading therefrom to' the electric valve control 6| energizes same and actuates the fluid cylinder 54 for moving the guide roller 51 intoits final operating position with respect to the hook member 48. A wire 84 extending from the switch box 68- to the electric valve control 43 simultaneously energizes the control valve 43, causing the hook member 48 to recede. While the hook member 48 recedes, it engages the switch box 82 and a wire 85 leading therefrom connects with and energizes the electric valve control 63 to raise the stop bracket 38 out of the path of the conveyor 4. In a simultaneous operation the electric valve controls GI and 52, through a wire 86, are energized, causing actuation of the cylinders 54 and 53 to withdraw the guide roller 51 away from the path of the conveyor 4. The tire in position 6 now being free leaves theconveyor 4, thus breaking the circuit in the switch box 42.

While the switch box 34 primarily operates to prevent discharge of a tire assembly from the overhead conveyor I to the inclined conveyor 4, the secondary switch box 14 cooperates with the switch box 34 through a connection 89. By this arrangement a tire will not be transferred from the overhead conveyor I to the gravity conveyor 4 while a tire remains in position 5 on the conveyor or while the stop arm 29 is in a lowered position to permit the tire assembly to move from position 5 to position 8. The switch box 14 is controlled by movement of the stop arm 29 through operation of the cylinder 30. A wire 98 connects the switch box 34 with the electric valve control 28 on the overhead conveyor I.

A pipe line 9| extending to a source of fluid under pressure connects with the electric valve control '43, and with the bag removing cylinder 44. Also, a pipe line 92 extending to a source of fluid under pressure connects with electric valve controls 28, I3, 52, GI and 63, and to the cylin- 'clers 24, 38, 53, 54,,and 39, respectively.

From the foregoing description, when considered in'connection with the accompanying drawings, it is apparent that a tire assembly in the ing that tire assemblies are in position 5 and poproper sequence of operation will be transferred from the overhead conveyor I to a feeding position 5 on the inclined gravity conveyor 4; and

8. In this operation the curing bag drops on to a belt type conveyor i0 where it is directed toward an operating cycle for reassembling the curing bag with another tire. The tire 2, after the curing bag is removed therefrom, moves from its position 6 on the gravity conveyor to a belt type conveyor H where it is taken away from the bag removing apparatus.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise subject to modifications as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for removing curing bags from pneumatic tires, comprising a support for a tire, means for retaining the tire on the support, means for transferring the tire from one position on the support to another position along the support, means for retaining the tire in the second position on the support, a hook for engaging a curing bag within the tire, means for engaging the hook for holding it in stripping engagement with the curing bag, means for moving the hook to remove the curing bag, and means for releasing the stripped tire from the support.

2. In a curing bag removing mechanism, a support, a pivoted hook, means for supporting and reciprocating the hook, and a guide movable angularly to the direction of the reciprocal movement of the hook for engaging the hook and turning it to force it between atire and a curing bag on the support.

3. In a curing bag removing mechanism, a support, a pivoted hook, means for supporting and reciprocating the hook-and a reciprocating guide movableangularly to the direction of the reciprocal movement of the hook for engaging the hook and turning it to force it between a tire and a curing bag on the support.

4. In a curing bag removlngmechanism, a support, a pivoted hook, means for supporting and reciprocating the hook, a reciprocating guide movable angularly to the direction of the reciprocal movement of the hook for engaging the hook and turning it to force it between a tire and a curing bag on the support, and means on said guide for engaging an edge of the tire.

5. In a curing b'ag removing mechanism, a support, a pivoted hook, means for supporting and reciprocating the hook, a reciprocating guide movable angularly to the direction of the reciprocal movement of the hook for engaging the hook and turning it to force it between a tire and a curing bag on the support, means on said guide for engaging an edge of the tire, and means for actuating and synchronizing the movement of said guide and supporting means.

6. In a curing bag removing mechanism, a support, a pivoted hook, means for supporting and reciprocating the hook, and a guide comprising a roller movable angularly to the direction of the reciprocal movement of the hook, whereby the roller engages the hook for turning it to force it between a tire and a curing bag on the support.

7. An apparatus for removing curing bags from pneumatic tires comprising a support for a tire and curing bag assembly, means for retaining the tire on the support, a member including a hook for engaging the curing bag within the tire, said member having a cam surface, means for moving said member to and away from the tire, cam-engaging means for engaging said cam surface, means responsive'to movement of said member for advancing the cam-engaging means with respect to said member to position the hook between the tire and curing bag, and means for releasing the stripped tire from the support.

FRANCIS I. HQNDERICH. 

